Lot details
Registration No: CTO 728
Chassis No: 547208
Mot Expiry: Exempt

The Brough name is better known in relation to motorcycles than cars, as the company produced over 3,000 two-wheelers between 1919 and 1940. Dubbed the `Rolls-Royce of Motorcycles', they were prestige machines that attracted a discerning clientele, and among the many famous Brough owners were George Bernard Shaw and T E Lawrence (`Lawrence of Arabia') who had no less than eight and, of course, famously lost his life on one. The firm's car production was miniscule by comparison and limited to circa 85 examples, but they echoed their two-wheeled cousins in terms of quality.
Three models were designed but only two made it into series production -the 4-Litre straight-eight that was manufactured in 1935 and 1936 and the ensuing 3.4-Litre straight six. The larger engined cars were constructed around Hudson chassis and powered by Hudson engines, the 125hp output of which endowed the Brough with an astonishing level of performance for the period - 60mph could be attained in no less than 10 seconds and the top speed was 90mph plus. Most Broughs sported striking Drophead Coupe bodies, which were produced by W C Atcherley of Birmingham.
Of the 20 or so 4-Litre cars built, only around eight are known to survive, of which `CTO 728' is one. It is finished in a strident combination of Red over Black and trimmed in Dark Red hide. The vendor describes the rakish bodywork as "restored" and the paintwork, interior trim, 4168cc engine and four-speed manual gearbox as "good". The attendant history file includes a comprehensive 1966 invoice from George Brough Ltd for the sum of £71 2s 6d, a copy of the original sales brochure, over 20 old MOTs, green log book, Swansea V5 and a copy of James Fack's book about W C Atcherley. A rare and exciting opportunity for all lovers of pre-war performance cars.
PLEASE NOTE: This lot is fitted with a correct type Hudson-derived three-speed manual gearbox (and not a four-speed unit as catalogued).